Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24
THE SECOND VERMONT.
REUNION OF THE REGIMENT IN THIS
CITY TUESDAY.
Eloquent Address by Col. Joyce The
Election of q Ulcers Tor the Next Re
union Cam pfire at the city
Hall Last Evening.

The reunion of the surviving members
of the Second Regiment Vermont volun-
teers took place in this city Tuesday.
The veterans began to arrive by the early
morning trains and the 1l:10 train from
the south brought Col. Joyce
and number from the southern
part of the State. They were
met at the depot by delegation from
Stannard Post in charge of o. p. Ray, adj.
jutant of the regiment and headed by the
Westford drum corps were escorted to the
Van Ness House. AT . o'clock a liue was
formed and. a march taken through
Church. Pearl and St Paul streets, back
to the &. \. r.. hail. where the business
meeting was held.
THE BUSINESS MEETING,
The meeting was called to order by Col
L. A. Woodbury., and l.. d. Savage of
Waitsiield, read the report of the last
meeting and Of the banquet last fall. 1t
was voted to hold the next reunion in
this city, June 81, 1855. On motion of Col
A. ). Tracy of Middlebury a committee
of five, consisting of Col. Tracy Col. j. H.
Walbridge OF Bennington, Surgeon b. W.
Leach of Fletcher and \. Mason of Gard
ner, Mass, were appointed a committee by
the chairman to report list of officers for
the next reunion They reported as fol
lows and the elections were unanimously
made:
For president, !. II. Walbrdge of Ben
ningtUn.
For lirst vice president, Major f. Wales
of BrattlebOro.
For second vice president, Gen. p. p.
Pitkin of Montpelier.
For secretary and treasurer o. p. Ray
OF burlington.
For executive committee, Gen. w. "
Henry, SURGEON b. w. Carpenter and
Col. |. A. Woodbury., all of Burlington.
The meeting then adjourned to the City
Hall to listen to an address by Col. G. H.
Joyce OF Rutland. The stage was hand
and old battle flags. The desk bore the
badge of the sixth corps and portraits Of
Gen. Stannard and Gen. Foster stood on
easels on either hand. Capt. Woodbury.
presided and introduced the orator.
COL. JoYCE's ADDRESS.
Mr.. chairman and old comrades In
the first place desire to thank you all for
your kind invitation to be with you to-
day and for your generous partiality IN
asking me to address you. 1t would
require d tongue touched with coal
Alohi INC W JUe ndTu-
ships you underwent, the battle, the
victory and finally the return 20 home
and 1iresides. Twenty-siX years ago you
were called on to defend our country and
you are gathered on this happy, festive
clay to receive the hearty grip ut each com
rade aud renew old acquaintances. You
point TO glorious peaceful nation. You
come here to pledge yourselves anew to
freedom. The citizen soldiers of Vermont
worship at the shrine of loyalty and you can
congratulate yourselves that you have not
swerved from the path of freedom. bid
you thrice welcome on this happy day
From mere handful of adventures the
United States has risen to height
equalled 10y no other nation in the world.
The nag OF our republic Is everywhere a
symbol of protection to our citizens. Our
enemies who had fought against us pre-
dlcttd our downfall, but what have we to
show them: There is neither time nor
necessity for me to 90 into history of the
causes that led to the war. In Aptil 1861
the president was obliged to call for
10000 volunteers. We had practic-
ally no army no navy and
were wholly unprepared, bnt when on the
18th of April, 1861, the flag at Sumter was
torn from its position, 2O,000,000 of free
men were ready to battle with the en-
emies OF liberty and if necessary to seal
their devotion to their country with their
blood Each We'd with the other in their
struggle for national honor and national
safety. We recollect among what applause
ana what tears you went forth and how
the blessings of heaven were invoked on
your head. While we celebrate our ami
yersary today let us remember that free
dom is the offspring of our green hills and
verdaut valleys OF the part taken by Vel-
mont the rebellion it is not necessary to
speak. Evidences are nowhere wanting.
The sacred relics of your devotion in our
capitol II they could but speak would tell
stories of the chivalry of Vermont troops
and they are not to be returned to the
place from whence they were taken APP
plause. The history of your troops from
the memorable DIST of June, 1861, to the
final charge is preserved and will never
fade. 1t will remain forever, growing
brighter and brighter, as long as God
shall permit men to strive for freedom.
For noble disinterestedness, for pure and
noble devotion to liberty, the Vermont
soldiers cannot be surpassed. Happy and
proud should be the State that can boast
of such men.
Col. Joyce then recalled many remn-
lscences of the regiment from the date of
its formation to the 18th of March, 1862
when active operations commenced The
speaker gave an account of the succeeding
march and described the more important
battles. 1t was the good fortune of the
Second Vermont regiment to be engaged
in the first battle of the war and also in
he grand conflict under the leadership of
Grant which terminated the war. Col
Joyce then spoke of some of the leaders
and added that under such men it would
have been strange if our little
State had not come out with
glory. On us, comrades, is an obligation
to see that these reunions are made per
petual, that our children may be taught
the glorious lessons of self-sacrifice. MAY
we come to them to examine into the
causes and results of the conflict, study
the lives of the leaders and thereby receive
guidance for the future. They will hell
MS TO labor for the advancement of oul
glorious country. 1t is well to keep alive
the events of the war, not to stir VI
strife or prevent a reconciliation between
the North and the South but that we may
never fail and that our children to the re
hottest generation may never fail to un
derstand the difference between loyalty
and treason.
Col Joyce is forcible and eloquent
speaker, thoroughly in earnest in his man
her of presenting subject and his ad
dress was listened to with great in
terest by both the veterans anC
the considerable body of citizens present
AT Its conclusion. on motion of Gen